
Relive Graduation Day 2023 at Finlandia University | Photo Gallery & Livestreams
Finlandia University held its final Spring Commencement Ceremony on Sunday, May 7, honoring 92 graduates in the Class of 2023. Following commencement, a commendation service was held for Finlandia University students, staff, faculty, alumni, neighbors and friends, commending the University and its 126 years of service.
Full High-Res Photos from Spring 2023 Commencement: On-Demand Livestream of Spring 2023 Commencement: Full High-Res Photos from Service of Commendation:Finlandia honors legacy, Class of 2023 with final commencement and commendation ceremonies
Founded in 1896 as Suomi College, Finlandia University held its final spring commencement ceremony on Sunday, May 7, honoring 92 graduates in the Class of 2023. In March, the University announced the decision to dissolve the institution and not enroll students for the 2023-2024 academic year.
President Timothy Pinnow congratulates student at FinnU’s Spring 2023 Commencement Ceremony.
Delivering the welcome address was Board Trustee Stephen Nikander, whose great-grandfather founded the institution and whose grandfather served [...]

Where to livestream Spring 2023 Commencement
On Sunday, May 7, Finlandia University held its Spring 2023 Commencement Ceremony at 1:30 p.m. in Hirvonen Hall Auditorium. Whether rewatching from home, or on the go, here’s everything you need to know.
Web: Livestream at finlandia.eduIn case you missed it, an on-demand version is available below!
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Connected TV & Tablet: Livestream on YouTubeFor those watching from home, find the comfort of viewing commencement directly from your connected TV or tablet by visiting Finlandia University’s YouTube Channel. Simply go to your [...]

Everything you need to know about Graduation Week 2023
Finlandia University’s baccalaureate and commencement ceremonies will be held on Sunday, May 7.
Here’s a complete run-down of when and where everything is happening during Graduation Week 2023.
RehearsalCommencement Rehearsal will be held on Friday, May 5 at 11:30 a.m., beginning in the Hirvonen Hall Gymnasium.
BaccalaureateOn Sunday, May 7, all graduates are invited to Baccalaureate Worship at Gloria Dei Lutheran Church in Hancock at 10:30 a.m. This is a service of prayer and blessing, specifically for this graduating class.
CommencementFinlandia University’s Spring 2023 [...]

Spring 2023 Commencement Ceremony to be held May 7 at Hirvonen Hall
Finlandia University’s Baccalaureate and Commencement activities for the Class of 2023 are scheduled for Sunday, May 7.
Exercises on graduation day will begin Sunday morning at 10:30 a.m. with the Baccalaureate Worship Service at Gloria Dei Lutheran Church in Hancock. Finlandia University’s Spring 2023 Commencement Ceremony will be held at 1:30 p.m. in Hirvonen Hall Auditorium, with doors opening at 12:00 p.m. Immediately following commencement will be a reception for graduates and guests on Quincy Green. A livestream of the commencement [...]

Academic Achievement Committee names 2023 Honors & Awards recipients
Finlandia’s Academic Achievement Committee hosted the university’s annual Honors & Awards Ceremony on Friday. Friends, faculty and staff gathered in Martha Wiljanen Hall at FinnU’s Finnish American Heritage Center to celebrate the students selected to receive honors and awards.
The Sisu Award is given to graduating students who have shown courage, fortitude and perseverance in overcoming hardship to achieve academic and personal success. Brandon Hale and Elijah Emmer were the two recipients of this year’s Sisu Award.
Membership in the Sampo Society [...]

Finlandia University will not enroll students for the 2023-2024 academic year
On Thursday, March 2, Finlandia University’s Board of Trustees announced that Finlandia will not enroll students for the 2023-2024 academic year. The decision follows months of continuous efforts to find pathways for the University to continue its mission.
“I am deeply saddened to announce that due to a combination of demographic changes, with fewer high school graduates available, a steep decrease in interest in going to college among those graduates, and an unbearable debt load, Finlandia’s Board of Trustees met and [...]

Finnish studies professor shines spotlight on FinnU
Virtanen presenting during Kalevalathon 2023, a reading marathon of Finland’s national epic poem, the Kalevala.
Finlandia Associate Professor of Finnish & Nordic Studies Dr. Hilary-Joy Virtanen has been named co-editor of the Journal of Finnish Studies. Having worked on the journal’s editorial staff since 2009, Virtanen now shares co-editorship with renowned folklorist and scholar, Thomas A. DuBois.
In addition to her co-editorship, Virtanen highlighted Finlandia’s Finnish studies program further when her field-related work was featured in three PBS [...]

March 15 Spring Colloquium to feature new faculty books about Grammy winning musician and life as a professor in the ‘North Country’
Finlandia University’s Suomi College of Arts & Sciences presents the 2023 Spring Colloquium celebrating two new faculty books. This year’s event will feature a reading, dialogue and book signing by authors Dr. Carolyn Dekker and Dr. William Knoblauch.
More about the authors and their new books can be found below.
North Country: A Pedagogical AlmanacNorth Country: A Pedagogical Almanac is a memoir in-essays that covers Dr. Carolyn Dekker’s life from 2015-2020. The book braids together teaching and family stories with [...]

Kalevalathon 2023: An ‘epic’ discussion with Dr. Hilary-Joy Virtanen
Finlandia Fridays is a great way for students, employees and the community to find out about exciting happenings around campus and in the Upper Peninsula. Hosted by Finlandia University’s Communications Department, Finlandia Fridays is an entertaining way to stay up to date with school events, stimulating discussions and student stories.
In this week’s episode, Dr. Hilary-Joy Virtanen joins the show to discuss an exciting upcoming event, Kalevalathon. Happening on Tuesday, February 28, this [...]